Online fundraising drive launched to help Staveley churches targeted by criminals
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The community was left in shock after holes were discovered in windows at Staveley Methodist Church and St John the Baptist Church.
It is believed a weapon was used to create the holes – and police are now investigating the crimes.
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Hide AdJames Salt, of Barrow Hill, is due to marry his partner Kirsty Dale at St John the Baptist Church in September.
He has now set up this GoFundMe page in a bid to raise £1,000 to help the churches cover repair costs.
James, 27, said: “I was disappointed and quite angry when I found out what had happened.
“Who would do something like that to a church?
“I just don’t understand what the people behind it must have been thinking.
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Hide Ad“With me getting married to Kirsty at St John the Baptist Church, this is something close to my heart so that’s why I set up the GoFoundMe page.
“These are tough times for churches because of the pandemic so I think it’s important to do something to try and help them out.”
Reverend Richard Harris, minister at Staveley Methodist Church, spoke to the Derbyshire Times after the buildings were targeted.
He said: “This is like an attack on the whole community – the church is used by many people.
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Hide Ad“It’s an act of mindless vandalism and I think the most worrying thing about it all is that it appears some sort of weapon was used.
“If somebody had been inside the church at the time and was hit by an object, it could have been life-threatening.”
A spokesperson for Derbyshire Constabulary said the holes in the churches ‘appear to have been made by small plastic pellets’.
Anyone with information about the offences – which were reported to have happened on the evening of August 7 or the early hours of August 8 – should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.